Improvement in excavating, plowing, and grading machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

E. I-I. WILLIAMS, OF CLERMONT, IOWA, AND D. R. 7. IVILLIAMS, OF IVERNER,

\VISOONSIN,`ASSIGNORS TO E. H. WILLIAMS.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXCAVATING, PLOWING, AND GRADlNGlMACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,005, dated April 15, 1862.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, E. H. \V1LLIAMS, of Clermont, in the countyof Fayette and State of Iowa, and D. R. W. WILLIAMS, of Werner, in the county of Juneau and State of \Vis consin, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Excavating, Grading, Plowing, Trenching, Ridging, dac.; and we do hereby declare that the followingis afull, clear, and eX- actdescription of the same, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a side elevation of our invention; Fig. 2, a plan or top View of the same; Fig. 8, a detached vertical section of a portion of the same, taken in the line zc, Fig. 4; Fig. 4, a plan or top view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a vertical section of aportion of the invention,taken in the line y Iy, Fig. l; Fig. 6, a section of a portion of the same, taken in the line z e', Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a detached perspective view of a portion of a metallic belt pertaining to the same; Fig. S,a portion of a top or plan view of a coller-wheel pertaining to the same; Fig. 9, a section of Fig. 8, taken in the line x Fig. l0, a vertical section of a portion of the invention, taken in the line yy, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists, first, in the employment or use of an adjustable plow-frame and caster-wheel arranged in such a wayand in such relation` with each other that the plow is made to work with a steady motion or movement at any angle or degree of inclination, thereby enabling the machine to operate equally as well in deep cuts, where the plow has a considerableinclination, asin cuts near the surface, where the inclination is but slight.

The invention consists, second, in the employment or use of a colter-wheel constructed in skeleton form and placed in an adjustable frame, as hereinafter fully shown and described, and used in connection with an endless metallic carrying-belt, also peculiarly constructed, and also used in connection with a metallic pressure-belt, the above-named parts being so arranged and placed in such relation with each other and with the plow that the earth will be cut in a slice and carried up in a moving box and in au unbroken the dimensions of the elevating or moving box above referred to may be expanded or contracted to conform to the bulk of its contents, and insure at alltimes a pressureupon the same sufficient to insure its elevation, al1 undue pressure at the saine time being avoided. i

The invention consists, fourth, in the novel arrangement of chains and springs, as hereinafter fully shown and described, for the purpose of driving or operating the pressurebelt and regulating the pressure thereof, the proper moving of the pressure-belt being a1- ways insured, and at the sametime any undue pressure of the same on the ascending slice 0f earth prevented.

The invention consists,j`ifth, inthe employmentor vuse of "adjustable colters and shares applied-to the machine, and arranged, substantially as hereinafter described, for the purpose of widening ditches or trenches while being cut or formed, thereby obviating the friction which would otherwise be produced in consequence of the earth at each j side of the ditch or trench being in contact with the sides of the machine. V

The invention consists, sixth, in the `employment or use of an adjustable discharging-spout and a rotary pulverizer constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter shown and described, whereby the raised earth, just previous to its discharge from the machine, is pulverized and rendered capable of being discharged upon the ground inlines or ridges at varying points from the edge of the ditch or trench, as may be desired.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct our invention, we will proceed to describe it.

A represents the front part of the frame of the machine. This part A may be vof rectangular form, and itis mounted on two wheels B B', one or both of which may be adjustable in a vertical direction. one of them should be thus adj ustable, in order to insure the vertical position of the machine when operating on aninclined surface. Thedraft-pole is attached lto the front part of A, and to the backpart of the same there is secured a fixed horizontal rod or axle C, on which the front end of the part'D of the frame is fitted and allowed to slide laterally. The part D of the frame is of rectangular form and quite narrow in proportion to its length,

the part D beingYYY at right angles to A, as shown in Fig. V2, and the back part of D is supported by a caster-wheel E, which is attached to a slide a, fitted in D, said slide being connected to a winch b by achain c. By

adjusting or turning the Winch Z9 the backl part ofvD may be raised orlowered, as desired. (See Figs. l and 2.)

F represents a plow, the share CZ of which 'is-of curved form in its transverse section. The sharecZ is permanently attached to a,

frame e, which is connected to the part D of the frame of the machine by pivots f.y Through f the back part of the frame e a screw g passes,

said screw also passing througha cross-bark of D,- or to. aplateattached thereto. By adjusting 0r turning this screw g the pointof ,the share d may be elevated or ,depressed- "that .is fto say, inclined more or less upward ordownward, as may be required. Thiswill n,befullyunderstood by referring to Figs. l andi/5. t p

Tothe upper er1-dof the share (Zthere is attached, by ahinge or yjoint Zt, a mold-board i,

against the back'of which a spring j bears,

said spring being attached to the back of the shared, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

To the front vpart of Dthere is attached, by pivots k k, a frame G, and in the bach. part of this frame G, at lower part, thefaxis of a wheel H is itted. "The wheel H isof metal, and its rim is formed "of Atwo circular side plates Z Z, which serve as cutters or colters, and two or more circular bars m m, which are between the platesZ Z, and to'which the ends of the spokes n are attached. (See Figs. 8 and 9.) The plates Z Z have a sharp edge, so thatthey may readily penetrate the earth, and

Vf"t`h'e plates Z Z project sufficient-ly far beyond the bars m m to cut into the earth a distance equivalent to the desired thickness ofthe slice to be cut.

y 1:1epresents a metallic endless belt, which iscconstructed of metal plates o, of a suitable width and of a length equal to the' space between -the colters Z Z.- .These plates are connected together by joints formed by slotting and swaging the edges of the plates to form eyes p, with spaces between them, the eyes of one plate fitting into the spaces between the eyes of its adjoining plates, and a pin q passed through the eyes. The eyes p are swaged or formed so as to bebeneath the plates, the outersurfaces of the latter being flush with It is essential that` the chains J J pass.

each other. (See Figs. l, 2, and 7.) The plates o, it will be seen, are connected together precisely similar to the two leaves of' a butthinge, and the eyes p, with the pins'q inserted in them, form projections or cogs for the belt, l

which mesh into toothed rollers r in the upper part of the `frame G. (See Fig. l.)

The beltl is tittedon or passes around the wheel H, and is in contact with the annular bars m 'm of the wheel, and the front rollers r, around which the belt l passes, are at the front end of the frame G at its upper part. The axis s of these front rollers r projects through the frame G at both sides, and it has grooved pulleys t t upon it, around whichl chains J J pass, said `chains also passing underneath two vidle-pulleys u u, which are attached to slides K in frame G, one at each side of it. (See Fig. 1.)

drums L, having each a coil-spring within them and arranged precisely similar to a watch-spring, and said springs cause-the pulleys u Iu to bear upon the chains J J andrender them taut forthe purpose ot' driving the part connected with them.

The chain J drives or operates a pressurebelt M, which is constructed precisely similar to belt l, buta trifle narrower, so that it, wit-h the frame N, in which it isiitted, may pass between thecolters ZZof wheel H. This frame N is formed of two curved or'segment bars w w, the lower ends of which are attached by pivots or a shaft a to projections or lugs b atthe upper part of theelastic or yielding mold-board t', one at each side, and through the upper parts of the bars lw w -a shaft c passes horizontally, said shaft having a grooved pulley d at each end, around which On the shaft c', between thebars w tu, there are placed two toothed pulleys e., into which the joints f of thebelt M mesh init-he same way as the joints of belt pulleys gbeing so placed that the upperend of the mold-board i Awill bear against the lower part of belt M, as shown clearly in Fig.

The upper ends ofthe bars Iw tu of the frame N have each a chain Zt attached to them` and` these chains h h are connected at their outer ends to hollow wheels t" t,hav ing coil-springs within them and arranged precisely similar to those which act upon the slides K K at the sides of the frame G.

Having now described the principal parts of our machine, we will proceed to explain the operation. As the machine is drawn along, the colters Z Zof the wheel H penetrate the earth and cut the sides ofthe slice to be removed or taken up, whilethe share (Z cuts the bottom of thev slice from the earth. share CZ, it will be seen by referring to Fig. l, is in close proximity to the lower part'of the wheel H at a point nearlyin line with its axis, as shown in` Fig. 1. The belt I forms The slides K are `connected by chains v with hollow wheels or The the tread of the wheel I-I-that is to say, it rests or bears upon the ground on the top of the slice which is being cut-and the friction of the colters Z Z, in connection with the friction produced by the pressure of the belt I on the ground, insures the rotation or movement of the belt in the direction indicated by the arrows 1. The slice as it is out is carried up in the wheel H betweenthe colters Z Z, belt I, andthe pressure-belt M, the latter being operated by the chains J J and moving in the direction indicated by the arrows 2. The slice, therefore, as it is cut is carried up by what may be termed a moving box, the only stationary surface lit passes over being the share CZ and yielding or elastic moldboard i, and as the latter, as well as .the apron M, are allowed to yield or give it will be seen that said moving box will contract and expand to suit the varying thickness of the slice. The slice, therefore, will be carried up in a solid or unbroken state, whatever the character or nature of the soil may be, whether clayey or tenacious, or loose, sandy, and friable. This it must be understood is a very important feature of the invention, as it insures perfect operation in every instance. The are many machines for excavating, plowing, &o., which will work passablywell in tenacious soils, but

which are utterly inefficient in loose sandy` soils, on account of the latter not adhering to the apron, the share merely scraping up i the loose soil and carrying it along, like a road-scraper.

The chains J J, it will be remembered, operate the pressure-belt M, and in order to insure its perfect operation by having the chains pressure of belt M upon or against the slice is equal to the power ofthe springs inthe drums L less the power of the springs in the wheels i Z. The chains J, therefore, are rendered sufficiently taut to operate belt M, while the latter is not allowed to bear'or press unduly on theascending slice.

The colters Z Z penetrate the earth `by the gravity of the wheel H, chain I, and frame G. It is supposed that this weight will be sufficient for the purpose; but in case experiencepshould prove otherwise theY back part of the frame G may be connected to the part D of the frame of the machine by springs, so as to transmit a portion of the weight of D to G. This would be preferable to loading G with extraueous weight, as in the latter case the weight and draft of the machine would be proportionately increased.

As the ditch, furrow, or trench is cut it will be seen that the part D Yof the frame of the machine is inclined, the caster-wheel .E runfere with its perfect operation, as the caster-` wheel E serves as guide or bearing and prevents any lateral or unsteady motion in any direction. The reverse is the casein the opl eration of ordinary plows, when the share Vis tilted or inclined, as they have` nothing to serve as a bearing at the heel, and consequently a very unsteady draft movement is the result.

In case any particles of earth should iind their way between the belt I and the wheel. H, they cannot be retained, but will pass down between the annular bars mm. This is an important feature in the construction of the wheel H, as it prevents wear and abrasion which would otherwise occur; and we would remark that if necessary the bars w w of the frame N of belt M may be provided with.

shields or guards of such width that they may cover the sides of apron M and prevent earth passing therein. These shields or guards may be constructed of thin metal plates riveted or otherwise secured to the bars w iv.

belts I M which must not be overlooked, and that is that a slice ,or earth elevating device is obtained wit-hin a comparatively narrow compass. It is probably impracticable for earthto be elevated on an ordinary smooth endless apron having a greater inclination than forty-five degrees, henceexcavators, as previously constructed, are cumbersome and unwieldy, as considerable length of frame is required to accommodate the apron and the machines are turned with considerable difficulty. Our invention obviates this, for it will be seen that the slice is elevatedto a height equal to the diameter of the wheel H within a space equal in length to half of the diameter of the wheel.

On the upper surface of the `part A of the frame ofthe machine there is placed an endless horizontal belt O, which is constructed precisely similarto I and works on toot-hed This apron O is moved or operated in the direction indicated lby the arrows 3, Fig. 2, from the wheel Bby bevel-gears 7c 7c', (see Fig. 1,),one of the gears lo being on a vertical shaft Z', the u'pper end of which is connected by bevel-gears with a horizontal shaft m', on one end of which a grooved pulley n is placed, said pulley having a chain 0', passing around it, which chain also passes 1 around a pulley p at t-he outer end of the shaft q', which has two of the pnlleysj of the apron O upon it. On the inner end of the shaft g there is placed a grooved `pulley r',

There is a feature attending the arrange-`- ment and operation of the wheel H and from which a shafts is driven or rotated by a chain t. (See Figs. l and 2.)

The shaft s isV directly above the discharge end of the apron O, andto it there are'attached a series of curved arms or beaters u', which areof such a length that they will in rotating just clear the apron O. Y

To one end of the upper part of the part A of the frame of the machine there is attached an adjustable spout P, which may be constructed of sheet metal. This spout is at the discharge end of thev apron O, and it is fitted. loosely on the shaft q', so that it may be swung or adjusted in `a more or less in'- clined position. The spout is retained or held at any desired point within` the scope of its adjustment or move ment by means of screws fu', whichpass through curved slots w at the upper part of the spout at kea'chside andinto A. This will be understood by referring to Figs, 1 2, and 10.

The upperpart of the part A of the frame of the machine is attached to `the upper part of G by means of slotted bars Q, provided with a hook a" at their front ends. `(See Fig. The slots b of these bars have each a screw cj passing through them into G, and the hooksc catch under a ledge 0T Plated/I t' I Cached tothe back part of A. This arranger ment admits ofthe parts A D of the frame working independently of each other, so that they may conform perfectly to the inequalities of the surface of the ground over'whi'ch apron conduct-s the slice of earth@ from the belt Ito O, and the upper edge of `said apron serves as a scraper to clean the beltI and insure the discharge of the earth or slice therefrom upon the belt O. The slice or earth is discharged from the belt O into the spout P,

by adjusting which the slice or earth may be deposited in lines or layers nearer to or far- Ather from the sides of the ditch, furrow, or trench. This is also an important feature of the inventiomas the layer or slice of earth'of each cut may be keptseparate and returned or replaced in the ditch or furrowor trench either in the same order as they were `excavated or removed or in an inverse order, so that after the work is performed the original surface soil or'the subsoil may be left at the surface, may be desired. The shaft s and beaters u" pulverize the earth as it is discharged fromv the belt O, and this pulverizer is important in plowing and trenching the earth for purposes of tillage. In excavating for ditching, draining, &c., it may be dispnsedwith. v .L

' In caseswhere the earth' which is excavated moved in either direction.

`of the machine. y 1 U U are attached to plates ctx a5, which are ward.

is to be conveyed from the ditch, furrow, or

. trench it 'is necessary 'that the belt O be sufficiently .elevated to' allow the earth to be discharged into a wagon. The part A, therefore, of the frame must be sufficiently high to admit of this result; but in cases where the earth is to be deposited at the sides of the ditch, furrow, or trench both wheels B B` of 1 A should be vertically adjustable to admit of A being lowered as much as possible, in 0rder that the part D of the frame may notbe unduly inclined, a contingencyvwhich might occur in deep cuts. In this latter arrangement the belt O must be driven from the wheel H, or from the pull`eys t t on yshaft s, or

. other pulleys placed on the same shaft.

Both belts I O may have vertical endless aprons S at' each side of them to serve as guards or fenders to prevent the earth from passing laterally om ,from the belts.

The belt O may have the gearing by which it is driven so arranged as to be capable of being reversed and admit of the belt being By this means the slices or earth may be discharged yat either side of "the machine, as circumstances may require, and the slices kor earth taken up from either side of the ditch', furrow, or trench and deposited thereinp To the front part ofthe part D of the frame of themachine there are attached two rotary colters T T and twovshare's U U. These colters and shares are directly in front of t the wheel H, and they perform an important function in widening the cuts, so as to prevent the 'sides of the" same coming in contact with the sides of the wheel H and otherparts The colters T T and shares placed loosely on oneor more horizontal guide- `rods bX in the part D of the frame of themay sides of the cut previously made`by the machine, or, in other words,they always operate in the cut. immediately above the one being made by the share F, and the" cuts of the colters and shares T U are gradually narrowedfrom the upperto the lower surface of the ditch or trench, so that a transverse section of the latter when finished will, as the colters or shares cut vertically, be of taper form or have inclined sides formed by a se'- ries of step-like projections. Y

The machine, although in the aggregate composedof. quite a number of parts, forms. as awho'le a simple and efficient device for 111e different kinds of work it is designed to perform, and there are no parts liable to get out of repair nor become deranged by use. The machine may be made to cut several furrows side by side parallel with each other, without changing the path of the draft-animals, by simply shoving the part D of the frame along on the rod or axle C of A, and by the same means different layers or cuts deposited at the sides of a ditch, furrow, or trench may be returned or replaced therein,

either in the same or in an inverse order to.

that in which they were removed or excavated.

We would remark that in certain cases-,as in stony ground, for instance-it may be desirable to dispense with the colters Z Z on wheel H. In this event the wheel H may be used, having a plain periphery with side guards or fenders at each side of its upper part and attached to the part D of the frame to retain the slice or earth on the belt I.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V l. Constructing the endless belts I M O, of a series of metallic plates o, connected together by joints formed of eyes p, which interlock into each other and are so swaged or formed as to receive their pins q at iheinner sides of the belt, whereby the outer surfaces of the plates will be flush with each other,`

and projections formed at the inner side of the belts to mesh into toothed pulleys or wheels which are driven by the belts or by which the belts are driven, substantiallyias herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the adjustable part D of the frame of the machine with the adjustable caster-wheel E and adjustable plow F, all arranged, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose of insuring a steady movement of the plow at any angle or degree of inclination in which it may work.

The wheel H, provided with two annular colters Z Z, and two or more annular bars m mI in connection with the endless belt I, and endless pressure-belt M, arranged in relation with each other and the plowF, to operate as and for the purpose specifi ed.

4. Providing the plow F with a yielding or elastic mold-board i, attached to the upper end of the share cZand arranged, in relation with the belts I M, to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the chains J .I h h', connected to springs and arranged, substantially as shown, for thepurpose of driving or operating the pressure-belt M from the belt I, and preventing the belt M from being subjected to any undue pressure against the as-v cen ding slice of earth while the chains .I J are kept suiiiciently taut to insure `the perfect operation of the belt M.

6. The employment of the laterally-adgustable rotating colters T and shares U, arranged and applied to the part D of the frame ofthe machine and used in connection with the wheel H, belts I M, and plow F, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. The adjustable discharging-spout P, attached to the upper part of the partA of the frame of the machine and in relation with the discharge end of the bolt O, a's and for the purpose herein described.

8. The rotary beater formed of the rotating shaft s', and beaters u', arranged in relation with the belt O, to operate as and for the purpose set forth. p

9. The combination of two endless belts I M, when arranged relatively with eachother, a wheel H without the colters Z Z, and a plow F, so as to serve as elevators to carry up the slice of earth as it is cut by the plow.

lO. The employment or use of a wheel H, provided with annular colters Z Z, when so arranged as to perform the double function of a rotary colter, and a driving-wheel for operating the endless belt or belts and other working parts of an excavating-machine.

E. H. WILLIAMS. D. R. W. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

A. H. LooMIs, WM. B. FAIRFIELD, G. H. HALL, J. M. RUsK. 

